Drosera binata

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Drosera binata, the forked sundew, is a large, perennial carnivorous plant from southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Its name means “having pairs,” referring to its leaves that are repeatedly forked (dichotomous). The leaves can be very long—up to about 60 cm—and the plant is notable among sundews for its narrow, branching leaves. It is the only species in the Drosera section Phycopsis.

Distribution and habitat
- Native to coastal Australia: from Fraser Island in Queensland, south through New South Wales and Victoria to Tasmania and the south-eastern corner of South Australia.
- In New Zealand, it is common below about 1,000 meters on the North and South Islands, Stewart Island, and even the Chathams.
- Some populations go dormant in winter, while others stay tropical.

Forms and history
- T-form: The original form, first collected in 1792 during a French voyage; described by Jacques Labillardière in 1804. It has a single leaf bifurcation that forms a “T,” grows up to about 30 cm, and starts green, reddening with age. This form is genetically stable.
- var. dichotoma (often called dichotoma): Leaves usually split into four terminal points (sometimes up to eight) and are yellower. It was first described as D. dichotoma but is now treated as a form of D. binata. It is widely grown in cultivation.
- f. multifida: Leaves split into even more points (eight to 16, sometimes up to 30). First described in 1976, but the name was not validly published; it remains popular with growers.
- f. extrema: Produces up to about 40 terminal leaf points and is often cited in cultivation; native to Stradbroke Island off Queensland.
- These forms illustrate a five-fold dichotomy, with some individuals showing the early signs of a sixth.

Cultivation and cultivars
- Two named cultivars:
- Drosera 'Giant' — a particularly large form of the var. dichotoma type (described in 1998, registered 1999).
- Drosera 'Marston Dragon' — described in 1986, registered 2001.

Darwin and significance
- Drosera binata was among the carnivorous plants Charles Darwin studied for his book Insectivorous Plants.